Chapter Fourteen - Temptation

A week has passed and Ryder is coming back home today. Thankfully, apart from the note nothing else has happened. But I know Seth won't stay idle for too long. After helping to clear the table of the leftovers from dinner I'm just about to head upstairs when I hear Michelle calling me.

"Ella, could you pop over to Ryder's place and see that everything is clean and tidy for when he gets back tonight?" She asks and I glance at the time to see that it's nine o'clock.

"Of course." I smile and take the keys from her before making my way outside through the back door.

I walk down the path which leads to a small wooden cabin at the back. It's like a mini house and looks the same as the main house. Climbing up the steps I unlock the door and step inside, only to gape at the sight before me. The cabin itself looks small from the outside but as soon as you step in it opens to a spacious and bright floor plan. I walk further to see a kitchen to my left made of light wood and white stone with multiple storage cabinets, consisting of every appliance necessary. A mini island also sits in the center of the kitchen.

Overall it's perfect and not too extravagant as the main house. There's a window to the side where natural light can filter through and there are many ornaments set around on the counter tops to fill in space. There are also utensils hanging near the cooker and small storage baskets near the sink. Every piece brings the whole kitchen together.

Next, there is a decent sized sitting room with a stone fireplace and a television to the side. A patterned rug is set on the floor with a glass coffee table on top, books and ornaments resting atop it. A large window is behind the couch and overlooks the patio area with a wooden dining table complete with brown sturdy chairs.

I step further and open the door to see a sitting area beside the table with a fireplace built into a stone wall that leads up into the high wooden beams above. There are small lanterns hanging from the wooden pillars above and the entire area is fenced in. The sounds of a stream alerts me to the side where there are many trees and flowers growing.

Walking back inside I get to work and start cleaning and tidying. I make my way through the first floor before heading down a hallway, noticing a guest bedroom, bathroom and storage cabinets with an empty room that is yet to be decorated and filled with furniture.

Finding the stairs, I hurry to the second floor and find a master bedroom which I assume is Ryder's, a bathroom and a small sitting area near the windows that overlooks the main house and the vast land ahead.

The bedroom is the perfect size with furniture made entirely of solid wood, from the bed to the wardrobe to the chest of drawers. The interior is warm and neutral just like the rest of the house and the bedding provides a pop of color to the room. There's also a rug in the center and a window to the right, probably overlooking the countryside.

I clean the top floor and make sure nothing is out of place. It's around ten at night when I stop, finally satisfied that everything is as tidy as can be. I head downstairs, ready to make my way back to the main house when I notice a grand piano tucked away in a corner. There's a white sheet draped over it but the black, glossy surface of the instrument still peeks through.

My fingers sweep over the keys with a soft smile on my lips as a sense of familiarity washes over me. Looking around I see nobody in sight and Ryder will probably be back in an hour or so. Unable to resist the temptation I take off the sheet and sit on the bench, releasing a deep breath before pressing down on a few keys.

Music fills the room instantly and disturbs the quiet before I find myself giving in. I start playing a tune that I came up with years ago. My eyes end up drifting shut as I enjoy the haunting melody. This was my mother's favorite.

I play a few more songs and time escapes me as numerous melodies fill the night. Every high note makes me giddy and every low note brings me peace. My fingers dance on the keys as I build the song up to a crescendo before I let it drop to the same pace as when I started, the melody becoming softer and softer until I press down on the last key and let go.

"That was incredible."

My eyes snap open in shock and I turn to see Ryder leaning against the door frame. I blush instantly as I wonder how long he had been standing there. Rising from the bench I step away from the piano in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Ryder. Michelle asked me to clean up the place before you came, I didn't mean to –"

"Ella." He murmurs gently before striding up to me and cupping my cheeks so that I meet his gaze. "I'm not angry at you."

"Y-You're not?" I whisper and bite my lip to suppress a content sigh when he caresses my skin. His eyes follow the action and if possible they darken as they zero in on my lips. Using his thumb, he pulls my bottom lip and makes me let go. I shiver involuntarily as he rubs it softly.

"You can play it whenever you want, Ella. I won't mind."

"Thank you." I smile shyly as I avoid his gaze and choose to focus on his tie instead.

It's then that I realize he must have come straight from the airport. He's dressed immaculately in a black suit and looks every bit like the business mogul he is. I watch as he loosens his tie before taking it off as he sits on the couch before setting his briefcase on the ground.

"Did the others have dinner yet?" He asks tiredly while running a hand through his hair.

"Yes, around two hours ago." I nod as I place the folded blankets in the cupboard before turning to see him staring at his watch in surprise. He must have only realized that it's ten at night.

"Oh..." He mutters while frowning to himself.

"I can make something if you're hungry?" I offer and watch as his stormy eyes meet mine.

"You don't have to, Ella." He replies but I wave him off as I make my way into the kitchen to see what ingredients he has.

I decide on making a pasta I had learned from the many cooking classes Seth made me attend, for reasons I am still unaware of. I cut up the ingredients and boil the water for the pasta as Ryder goes to take a shower. Making the sauce proves to be slightly difficult since I don't make this dish regularly but I manage.

When Ryder comes back down I have set his plate on the kitchen island with a glass of water. He thanks me while I turn to do the dishes because I don't want to leave his kitchen in a mess. I work in silence as my mind wanders which is never a good thing. Often, I find myself remembering my past and those aren't the prettiest memories to dwell upon.

"Where did you learn to play the piano?" Ryder asks suddenly which makes my body tense.

"Um...my mother gave me lessons, she was a music teacher. I graduated from college in music too."

"You what?! I thought Seth kept you locked up in the house?" Ryder asks and I turn to see his eyes wide in disbelief before a giggle escapes my lips at his reaction.

"He put guards with me whenever I went out. When I graduated he said I didn't need them anymore since he was about to get the money anyways. That's when I planned to escape since I didn't have anyone watching me anymore." I explain as I pick up the messy pot.

"Did he get the money?"

"No, I was supposed to sign off on the papers by the end of the week I ran away." I murmur quietly as I try to distract myself with the dishes.

"Where did you go to college?" He thankfully changes the subject back to my education.

"Julliard." I reply and hear him inhale sharply.

"No wonder! You're so talented!" He exclaims and his wide blue eyes makes me laugh. "Wait, how did you pay tuition if your dad's company went bankrupt?"

"I got in through a scholarship plus I worked as a teenager and while I was in Julliard." I explain as I dry the dishes and place them on the rack.

"Have you thought about what you'd like to do?" He asks and the question makes me pause.

I shrug halfheartedly as I turn and lean against the cabinets. "I've always wanted to be a music teacher like my mom. Now that I'm not locked up by Seth I'll try to look for open positions here I guess."

"I'm sure you'd get in like that!" He snaps his fingers which makes me grin.

"Hopefully." I chuckle before taking his empty plate and cutlery before washing them too.

"What happened in Houston when you went to press charges?" He asks suddenly which makes me stiffen. "Rome and Hunt won't tell me anything."

"Uh...a young boy was given a note to pass to me. It was from Seth." I reply quietly as I turn to him.

His eyes light up with anger and something else I can't quite decipher. "What the hell?! He was in Houston too?!"

"No." I shake my head and watch his features scrunch in confusion. "The boy described the man who gave him the note but it didn't match Seth's appearance. We're guessing he probably had someone pass the note to a random kid as soon as he saw me."

"Fucking hell!" Ryder snarls as his fists clench. "What did it say?"

"He knows that I'm pressing charges against him and he basically said that nothing will stop him from taking me again." I sigh worriedly as he stands and pulls me into his comforting embrace.

"That won't happen, Ella. We're going to make sure he doesn't get near you." He tries to reassure me but it does nothing to chase my worries away.

I know how Seth is and the extremes that he will go to. He's going to find me and I hope that I can fight back when the time comes. Just the thought of facing him again and being dragged back to his house frightens me to death.

"Thanks." I whisper and try to keep the stress out of my voice. "Anyways, I better go. It's quite late and you need rest."

He stares quietly at me before sighing in a resigned fashion. With a nod he walks me to the door and I feel the warmth from his hand seep into my body as it rests on the small of my back. Instantly, I feel butterflies flutter in my tummy and I struggle not to let my nervousness show over a simple action. He's just walking you to the door, Ella! I mentally scold myself. Stop being stupid!

"Thank you for dinner, Ella. It was delicious." He murmurs before pulling me close by the back of my neck to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

My eyes widen in surprise at the unexpected action. "Uh...s-sure, no problem."

He grins boyishly with a knowing look in his eyes that has me averting my eyes nervously. I clear my throat before bidding him goodnight again and rushing out the door. I hear his husky chuckles follow me into the night which only increases the butterflies fluttering about crazily in my tummy.

Oh Ryder, what are you doing to me?

Update schedule is: twice weekly whenever I find time!

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